Begum Akhtar (October 7, 1914- October 30, 1974) was a well-known Indian singer of Ghazal, Dadra and Thumri. Her good looks and sensitive voice made her an ideal candidate for a film career in her early years. When she heard great musicians like Gauhar Jan and Malaka Jan, however, she decided to forsake the glamour of the film world for a career in Indian classical music. Her supreme artistry in light classical music had its moorings in the tradition of pure classicism. She chose her repertoire in primarily classical modes: a variety of raags, ranging from simple to complex.
The first recording "Holi in Raga- Pilu" is a 78rpm from the time when she was commonly known as Akhtaribai Faizabadi